How to Wear Nude Sandals: Shades, Dresses and Strap Styles

Nude sandals are sandals in a shade close to your own skin tone, so the shoe blends into the leg and makes it look longer. Pick the shade by matching the top of your bare foot, then wear them with pastels, florals, prints and bright dresses, anywhere you want the outfit to lead and the shoe to step back. Browse the Zimmermann collection and our designer sandals edit for current shapes.

Our worked example is the Zimmermann Solstice Sandal 85 in dusk, a soft beige patent sandal with corset inspired lacing, a squared toe and an 85mm sculptural heel. It pairs naturally with the dresses in our guide to summer wedding guest dresses, and if you prefer a darker shoe, see how to style black pumps.

Key facts

• “Nude” means a shoe shade close to your skin tone, from pale beige to deep brown.
• A well matched nude sandal visually extends the leg because there is no hard colour break at the ankle.
• Nude heels are closed shoes; nude sandals are open, with straps across the foot and ankle.
• The Zimmermann Solstice Sandal 85 in dusk is patent leather with gold hardware, leather lined and leather soled.
• It is made in Italy, comes in EU 36 to 41 and Zimmermann says it fits true to size.

What does “nude” mean for shoes?

For shoes, nude means a shade chosen to match your skin, not one fixed beige.

For years, “nude” in fashion meant a single pale pinkish beige. That only works as a true nude for a fraction of people. The idea behind the shoe is simple: when the colour of the sandal is close to the colour of your foot, the eye reads the leg as continuing down to the toe, and the leg looks longer. A pale beige sandal on deeper skin does the opposite, drawing a light line at the ankle.

So think of nude as a range: porcelain, sand, beige, caramel, honey, chestnut, espresso. The right one for you is the one that disappears.

How do you find your nude shade?

Hold the shoe against the top of your bare foot in daylight and choose the closest match.

1. Look in natural light, not under shop lighting, which warms everything.
2. Compare against the top of the foot, which is often slightly different from your face.
3. Check the undertone: pink, golden and olive skins each suit slightly different beiges.
4. If you are between two shades, go a touch deeper. A slightly darker sandal looks intentional; a lighter one looks like a gap.
5. Think about a tan. If you wear sandals mostly in summer, match your summer skin.

The dusk shade of the Solstice Sandal 85 sits in the soft beige part of the range. On lighter skin it reads as a close nude; on deeper skin it reads as a pale accent, which can be lovely with a white dress, but it will not lengthen the leg in the same way.

What dresses and colours go with nude sandals?

Nude sandals go with almost every dress colour, and they are at their best with pastels, prints and strong brights.

Prints are where nude sandals earn their place. A busy multicolour dress like the Zimmermann Clash Sail Maxi Dress, a silk georgette gown with an abstract sail print, needs a shoe that does not add another colour. A nude sandal lets the print do the talking, and on a full length dress the shoe is only glimpsed when you walk, so it needs to blend, not stop the eye.

Texture works the same way. The Clash Applique Mini Dress is covered in three dimensional floral applique on embroidered tulle. On a mini, the leg is a big part of the look, and a nude sandal makes it read as long and clean beneath all that detail. Our explainer on what an applique dress is covers how to balance texture like this.

For white and cream, there is a small trap: a very pale nude can merge with the hem and the skirt seems to end in nothing. Our style note for the dusk Solstice is a cream lace midi for a wedding, and it works because the patent shine separates shoe from dress even when the tones are close. The Lace Pleated Tiered Midi Dress is a lace midi in that spirit, for occasions where pale is welcome.

Nude sandals vs nude heels: what is the difference?

Nude heels are usually closed pumps, while nude sandals are open, with straps; sandals are lighter for summer and heels are better for cooler weather and tailoring.

Both do the same job of lengthening the leg. A closed nude heel covers more of the foot, so the match to your skin matters even more, and it suits trousers, office dressing and the colder months. A nude sandal shows skin between the straps, which forgives a slightly imperfect shade match, and it suits dresses, bare legs and warm evenings. If you only own one, choose by season: the sandal for spring and summer, the heel for autumn and winter.

Which strap styles suit nude sandals best?

The fewer and finer the straps, the more leg a nude sandal shows, though ankle straps and lacing add security without losing much length.

The Solstice Sandal 85 is the corset style: slim straps lace across the foot and around the ankle, finished with gold hardware. Lacing gives you a decorative shoe that still blends, so it suits a plain dress that needs a point of interest at the foot. For a cream alternative, the Zimmermann Belara Sandal 85 in Cream sits in the same pale family, and for days by the water, a slide like the Solena Slide keeps things easy. If you want to build out from strappy shapes, our guide on how to style strappy heels goes further.

How do you wear nude sandals to a wedding?

Nude sandals are one of the safest wedding guest shoes because they suit almost any dress and keep attention on the outfit.

Weddings bring three practical tests: colour, terrain and time on your feet. Colour is easy, since nude works with nearly every guest dress. Terrain is harder. On grass, a sculptural heel like the Solstice’s spreads your weight better than a stiletto, but keep to paths where you can. On sand, switch to a flat for the ceremony. As for time on your feet, a heel of 85mm with lacing around the ankle stays put through standing, walking and dancing far better than a strapless mule.

A few pairings that work well:

• A multicolour silk maxi with a nude sandal and a small clutch for a garden wedding.
• A floral mini with a nude sandal and gold drop earrings for a cocktail reception.
• A bright plain midi with a nude sandal so the colour stays the hero.
• A printed midi with a nude sandal and a woven bag for a daytime ceremony in summer.

For more on venue rules and heel types, read our wedding guest shoes guide.

How do you care for patent nude sandals?

Wipe patent with a soft, barely damp cloth, lift scuffs with a soft pencil eraser and store each shoe in its own dust bag.

Pale patent shows marks more than black, so a little care goes a long way. Zimmermann notes that the high gloss of patent leather may reduce over time, which is normal with wear. To keep it looking its best:

• Wipe after each wear to remove dust before it settles into scuffs.
• Use a soft pencil eraser on light scuffs, working gently.
• Keep patent away from strong heat, including sunny windowsills and car boots.
• Store pale patent apart from darker shoes and printed fabrics, since patent can pick up colour from what it touches.
• Stuff the toes with tissue to hold the squared shape.

The Solstice Sandal 85 has a leather lining and a leather sole. Leather soles are smooth when new, so wear the shoes around the house before an event, and ask a cobbler about a thin rubber sole guard if you will walk on polished floors.

What else should you wear with nude sandals?

Keep accessories soft and warm, with gold jewellery and a bag in a natural texture, so the whole look stays light.

Gold is the natural partner for a beige shoe, and the Solstice’s gold hardware gives you a link to pick up in earrings and bracelets. For bags, raffia, natural leather and pale clutches all suit. If you want a metallic shoe in place of nude for evening, the Solstice Sandal 85 in Gold Nappa Leather is the same shape with more shine; our guide on how to wear gold heels covers when gold beats nude. For a red dress, where the shoe choice is trickier, see what colour shoes to wear with a red dress. And for the full range of shapes, our Zimmermann shoes guide covers every current style.

Do nude sandals work with trousers and jeans?

Yes, nude sandals look polished with cropped trousers and straight jeans, as long as the hem stops at the ankle.

Our styling note for the dusk Solstice is white linen trousers and a fine knit for dinner somewhere warm, and the principle travels. A cropped trouser shows the lacing and keeps the line long. With jeans, choose a straight leg that ends at the ankle bone, roll once if needed, and add a crisp shirt. Avoid long, wide hems that cover the foot; a nude sandal hidden under fabric loses its point entirely.

Frequently asked questions

What colour are nude sandals?

Nude is not one colour. It means a shade close to your own skin tone, from pale beige through caramel to deep brown, chosen so the shoe blends into the leg.

How do you choose the right nude shade?

Hold the shoe against the top of your bare foot in daylight. The closest match, with no hard line between skin and shoe, is your nude.

What dresses go with nude sandals?

Pastels, florals, multicolour prints and bright colours all work, because a nude sandal lets the dress lead. Pale dresses close to the shoe shade need a slightly deeper sandal for contrast.

Are nude sandals appropriate for a wedding?

Yes. A nude heeled sandal is one of the safest wedding guest shoes, since it suits almost any dress colour and keeps the focus on the outfit.

How do you clean patent nude sandals?

Wipe them with a soft, barely damp cloth and lift scuffs with a soft pencil eraser. Store each shoe in its own dust bag, because patent can mark other surfaces it touches.

Do Zimmermann Solstice sandals fit true to size?

Yes. Zimmermann says the Solstice Sandal 85 fits true to size, and it comes in EU 36 to 41 with an 85mm heel.